<p>As it says.</p>
<p>I am applying for PhD programmes in chemical engineering to schools in the US and the UK. The schools in the UK will likely have decisions for me a fair bit later than the US schools (which will have decisions in Febuary/March), so I’m wondering how much later those decisions can be without me having to accept/reject offers from the US places.</p>
<p>Most US graduate schools are members of the Council of Graduate Schools and require a decision by April 15.</p>
<p>
Council of Graduate Schools resolution:
Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution. In those instances in which a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer.
</p>
<p>A list of participating schools can be found [url=<a href=“http://www.cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/CGSResolutionJune2005.pdf]here[/url ”>http://www.cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/CGSResolutionJune2005.pdf ]here[/url</a>] (pdf).</p>